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Mustafa, a Syrian Teenager, Finds a New Home and a New Life

FINDING HOPE

Mustafa is a Syrian child refugee living in Germany. Unfortunately, many of his family members have been forced by Syria's brutal civil war to flee to other countries. As he explains, “My life’s good now. I’m happy. But my father is in Iraq. One of my sisters is in Syria, far away from me."

Still, with support from organizations like UNICEF, Mustafa is learning to navigate the challenges of life and school in a foreign country.

"Now I have a residency permit," Mustafa says. "I’m staying with my family. No war, and ... I feel secure. And everybody’s very good to us, thank God."

In Germany, Mustafa can focus on growing up, not guns and bombs. He vows: "I will continue with my studies ... my education ... because that's what I count on. And basketball. These are the two things I count on."

DANGEROUS JOURNEYS

When Mustafa was 13, he and his family were forced to flee home because of Syria's brutal civil war. Mustafa had to leave his toys — and his childhood — behind. After bombing and armed conflict in his home town — and after learning that warring factions might target his brothers — Mustafa was scared. "I kept thinking about what was happening to us. Were we going to die? God forbid!"

UNICEF dramatized Mustafa's dangerous journey in an animated film called, "Mustafa Goes for a Walk."

UNICEF launched its animated video about Mustafa as the third of three animated shorts in a series called Unfairy Tales. Based on true stories of children escaping conflict, the videos explain why they fled and what happened on the way.

”The stories of children like Mustafa are not unusual. At least 65 million children and young people globally are on the move — escaping conflict, poverty and extreme weather — looking for a more stable life and a place to call home,” said UNICEF's Head of Communication Paloma Escudero.